2
$\begingroup$

In France, when selling a car, the last check (more or less a C-check) must has been done within the 6 months before the owner change.

Is there an equivalent requirement for airliners? I'm more interested in ICAO's rules.

I'm thinking of budget airlines that tend to sell their aircrafts while still young (less than 10 years) and thus having been subjected to at most one D-check.

Improve this question
$\endgroup$

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
2
$\begingroup$

I'm not aware of any such time limit or window requirement related to maintenance programs that apply to the legality of sale transfers, and couldn't find anything myself, so I'll proceed based on the assumption the answer is "no" but would be very pleased if someone who knows can correct the record.

Airliners or aircraft in general are not required to be sold "mechanically fit" like a, car, as a condition of sale, or fit with the last x months or years. Regardless of who owns it or when it's transferred, it's airworthy and can be flown, or it's not, and can't (except for temporary permit to fly when you want to ferry an airplane from point A to point B, which you would do if you bought an un-airworthy but mechanically fit aircraft and wanted to get it to your own base).

So if an airliner is sold with a D coming up, there's nothing stopping the transfer from one owner to the other, even if it's at its D check interval limit and is grounded until the check is performed. The new owner can purchase it and apply for a ferry permit, or a short term extension to the D interval (there is usually some latitude allowed for special situations).

If I was buying an airliner that was only a thousand cycles short of a D, well that is maybe 6 months or 8 months of flying or whatever, and I might specify that the seller complete a D check as a condition of sale (as well as incorporation of all outstanding Service Bulletins), or, I allow for the risks in taking it with the unknowns of a major structural inspection coming up with this risk factored into the price (this can be evaluated by analysing how the airplanes of that type are holding up at D check across the fleet - some airplanes already have pretty onerous structural patching requirements by then, imposed by surprise results during fatigue testing).

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
4
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Most places I'm aware of (in the US) have no requirement of a car being mechanically fit for use prior to sale. If there were, BringATrailer couldn't exist! That's a bit of a side note, but I thought I'd mention it. $\endgroup$
    – FreeMan
    Feb 3, 2020 at 13:35
  • $\begingroup$ @FreeMan prepare to be shocked... NY has an annual inspection requirement, like an aircraft, and it has to be current prior to sale dmv.ny.gov/inspection/inspection-requirements. Oddly enough, in Quebec to the north, probably the most "European" jurisdiction in NA, it's libertarian-ville. No safety inspections, no emissions inspections, no inspection before sale, EXCEPT a one-time safety inspection when you bring a car in from out of province. Ontario only requires an inspection to prior to sale, but they give 2 week temps if you want to do it after. $\endgroup$
    – John K
    Feb 3, 2020 at 13:49
  • $\begingroup$ I did say "where I'm aware of"... So I can't buy a non-running car in NY state with the intent of fixing it up to use? Doesn't surprise me, but that's a topic for a totally different forum... $\endgroup$
    – FreeMan
    Feb 3, 2020 at 13:58
  • $\begingroup$ Yeah I know lol. Pretty tough when you have 50 jurisdictions. Perusing that web page, if you buy a car on a private sale, they give you 10 days. I think the motivation is because the cars rot out and become death traps so fast due to salt use. $\endgroup$
    – John K
    Feb 3, 2020 at 14:08

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .